MADA's role at the MAHA 2018 ...

So I was recently over at the twice yearly Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism Show 2018 (MAHA 2018) and it is just as huge as ever at the MAEPS, Serdang...

Themed “Our Food, Our Future’ , MAHA 2018 is looking to receive more than 3.5 million domestic and foreign visitors over the span of 11 days from 22nd November 2018 to 2nd December 2018... and they are just about on track with the crowd we had to face...

With about 13 pavilions and 1,500 sales tents featuring various attractions as well as 501 popular food items from all states such as fruits, vegetables, plants, fresh fish and seafood on sale, there are soooo much to see and do 

I was there to check out MADA (Muda Agriculture Development Authority) an agency under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, which happens to be the agency responsible for the Agro-Tourism Clusters for MAHA 2018...

MADA is also very much involved in making the "Laman Padi" and States Pavilions a success for MAHA 2018..

Anyway somewhere in Hall A of MAHA 2018 lies a little village called Kampung Pulau Pisang, you know what.. I was reading it as Kampung Pulau Pinang at first... but no... its nothing to do with Penang... it is actually a little village in the district of Kubang Pasu, Kedah Darul Aman....

So this pretty little village known as the Kampung Pulau Pisang is pretty unique with traditional Malay house architecture that offers homes with the vast green paddy fields Kedah is so famous for as the backdrop...

Visitors are more then welcomed to try their hand on the ongoing agricultural activities..

Because of Kampung Pulau Pisang uniqueness as a choice AgroTourism destination, the AgroTourism Cluster for MAHA 2018 decide to make it the official name for their cluster here... 

Drop by Kampung Pulau Pisang for the feeling of being in one of the Northern Peninsula Malaysia Villages experience along with the various sub-cluster activities held there such as :

1. CHARUK PELANDUK

Charuk Pelanduk is actually a little village in Sik, Kedah... but at the AgroTourism Cluster of Kampung Pulau Pisang, it is a stop for curious visitors to check out the various unique handicraft products as well as antiques... It is also where visitors can get involved in Agro Art & DIY activities such as paper making from pineapple fibres and also activities like batik painting or ceramic paintings... 

2. WAKAF MAHSURI

Mahsuri who is said to be the most beautiful woman in Langkawi once upon a time.. 

And because of that, the Health & Beauty sub-cluster here is called the Wakaf Mahsuri... Here, various naturally made beauty and health products are offered... The products are made from rice, stingless bee honey, propolis, herbs and Jewel of Borneo)

You can also find a little spa offering beauty masseur services that includes traditional elements...

3. WARONG ULU SEDAKA

Ulu Sedaka on the other hand is a little village in the district of Yan in Kedah Darul Aman famous for palm seed drinks ( nira nipah ) which is served with other dishes like laksa and so on...

So at the Kampung Pulau Pisang Cluster, Warong Ulu Sedaka serves up some pretty yummy traditional dishes and iconic drinks from Kedah....

4. GELANGGANG PANTAI MERDEKA

Pantai Merdeka is situated in the district of Kuala Muda, Kedah Darul Aman famous for its beaches and the fishing village called Tanjung Dawai, Telok Nipah and Kampung Pulau Sayak which also become the popular destination for anglers and fishermen...

Gelanggang Pantai Merdeka is chosen as the Hobby & Recreation sub-cluster 

5. PELANTAQ GUNUNG KERIANG

Gunung Keriang is a well known hill in Kedah Darul Aman which is 217.92 meter on height situated in the middle of the rice fields of Kedah..

It has been chosen as a unique geological heritage spot and is also the location for traditional and cultural activities....

LAMAN PADI

Green paddy fields with strange looking scarecrows.. I swear the scarecrows look super strange here... and a Paddy Museum that will tell us everything there is to know about the rice industry... from the pests that harm the paddy plants to how rice is harvest and what you can find that is made from rice...

And for those who are brave and don't mind getting muddy... how about playing football in the paddy field.... and if you are lucky, you even find a buffalo toiling the fields..

AGROTRADE

For Agrotrade, MADA has numerous entrepreneurs which they have been coaching, as well as training under their programmes... 

You can find some of these entrepreneurs at the Agrotrade hall selling Bahulu, soursop drinks, health drinks, brownies biscuits etc....

It is exciting checking out all these places to see all the efforts MADA has been putting in for the community abd Agro tourism and we had so much fun before proceeding to the other parts of MAHA 2018 ... 

For more info on MADA, be sure to check :- 

http://www.mada.gov.my/